Depression symptoms in women can be tricky to pinpoint. Maybe it's just the blues... but it could be something more. Can you snap out of it? Do natural remedies really work? We separate fact from fiction with these 12 common depression myths...

Depression Myth #1:Women get blue more often than men.TrueDepression is twice as common in women than men.

“Women are a petri dish for mood disturbance,” says Michael E. Silverman, Ph.D., co-director of the Division of Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

One out of every four women will experience clinical depression during her lifetime, compared to only one out of every eight men, according to the National Institutes of Health.

But why?

There’s no simple answer, but hormones may be to blame.

Monthly hormonal changes may cause a higher incidence and different types of depression in women than men, says Thom E. Lobe, M.D., founder and director of Beneveda Medical Group (Beneveda.com) in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Puberty seems to be the dividing line. Before adolescence, depression rates are the same in boys and girls, Silverman says. Afterward, the risk goes up for young women.

Depression Myth #2: You can “snap out of” depression.FalseDepression is much more than just having a bad day, Dr. Lobe says. It’s a complex neurobiology that can’t be turned on and off at will in order to stop being depressed.

Pregnancy’s hormonal shifts is one cause, he says. So are personal problems – for example, feeling overwhelmed with responsibility, lack of support or relationship problems could cause depression.

Depression Myth #7: Pregnant women should never take antidepressants.FalseDoctors are split on this issue.

Some believe a pregnant woman should never take antidepressants because scientists don’t know how they affect the unborn baby.

Others — like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Psychiatric Association — say the medications may help.

You and your doctor need to weigh the risk of not treating the depression against the possible dangers of the medication to you and your baby, according to “The Management of Depression During Pregnancy,” published in 2009 in Obstetrics & Gynecology and General Hospital Psychiatry.

Until there’s definitive research, “[treatment] depends on the doctor, the patient, the symptoms and the circumstances,” Dr. Lobe says.

Medications considered an option during pregnancy:

Celexa

Prozac

Sarafem

Zoloft

Amitriptyline

Pamelor

Wellbutrin

Depression medications to avoid during pregnancy:

Paxil

Nardil

Parnate

Behavioral therapies may also help with mild depression.

Depression Myth #8: It’s the “baby blues,” not depression. False “Baby blues” are common – 6% of women experience mood fluctuations in the days or weeks after giving birth, primarily due to hormonal changes and sleepless nights, Columbia’s Weissman says.

But not all signs of depression should be dismissed as baby blues.

About 10% of new mothers have postpartum depression, says ACOG, and many experts think it’s underreported.

St. John’s wort may interfere with drugs used to treat heart disease, depression, seizures, some cancers and organ transplant rejection, according to a 2000 FDA advisory.

Another worry for women: The herb may also make oral contraceptives less effective.

Plus, it may not even work.

A 2002 clinical trial by the National Institutes of Health found that St. John’s wort was no better than a placebo in treating major depression.

Talbott recommends the following natural supplements, which have no known drug interactions: 5-HTP, eurycoma, theanine and fish oil.

But as with any herbal supplement, check with your doctor before taking it.

Depression Myth #11: It’s natural to be sad when something bad happens —that’s not depression. TrueIt’s normal to feel grief in life’s challenging moments, whether it's a breakup, death of a loved one, or loss of a job.

But with depression, the feelings last longer than a couple of weeks: It’s "an abnormal extended response” to a sad or bad life event,” Dr. Silverman says.

“Major depression stops someone in their tracks," he adds.

So what’s a “normal” reaction? Sadness, crying, anger and confusion when life is at its roughest, Dr. Anderson says.

Depression Myth #12: All depression symptoms in women are the same.FalseIn fact, the symptoms can vary.

Red flags include feelings of hopelessness and thoughts of suicide or wanting to harm yourself or someone else, Dr. Anderson says.

Other common signs:

Persistent sad, anxious or empty feelings

Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness

Irritability and restlessness

Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed

Loss of libido

Fatigue and decreased energy

Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions

Insomnia or excessive sleeping

Overeating or loss of appetite

Persistent aches or pains, headaches or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment

If you think you're depressed, talk to your doctor about getting screened.

How Much Do You Know About Seasonal Affective Disorder?Chances are you've felt emotional highs and lows as the weather gets colder and darker. Did you know there’s actually a name for it? It's seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Take this quiz to find out just how much you know about SAD.

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